Laughing Out Loud! Investigations on Different Types of Laughter

The Oxford Handbook of Voice Perception ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198743187.013.22 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 494-512

Author(s):

Kai Alter ◽

Dirk Wildgruber

Keyword(s):

Social Interaction ◽

Social Anxiety ◽

Cognitive Biases ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Promising Target ◽

Different Types ◽

Cerebral Processing ◽

Future Work ◽

Evolutionary Progression

This chapter summarizes findings on the production, perception, and cerebral processing of different types of laughter, such as friendly laughter, tickling laughter, ‘schadenfreude’ laughter (expressing the pleasure about somebody’s misfortune), and taunting laughter. It discusses the articulatory and acoustic patterns related to these different types of laughter. The majority of acoustic patterns specifically linked to distinct types of laugher are related to voice parameters, such as fundamental frequency, and the involvement of the oral and nasal cavities. This may result in coughing-like or snoring-like features of laughter. The chapter argues that this may constitute a link to the evolutionary progression of emotional expression. Regarding laughter perception, the chapter presents studies showing that different types of laughter can be classified by listeners based solely on acoustics. Moreover, it reports specific changes in laughter perception, such as in the case of gelotophobia (the fear of being laughed at) and social anxiety. Lastly, the chapter shows data on the neurobiological underpinnings of laughter perception in healthy subjects, as well as the neural correlates of the negative attention bias observed in patients with social anxiety. The identification of neurobiological correlates of cognitive biases during laughter perception may provide a promising target for evaluation of therapeutic interventions such as neuropsychological training, non-invasive brain stimulation, or neural feedbacktraining in further research projects. To conclude, laughter is a multi-faceted expression of both emotional and social interaction. Studies on how laughter can impact social interaction can be particularly helpful for future work on patients suffering from anxiety.

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Non-Invasive Biomarkers for Earlier Detection of Pancreatic Cancer—A Comprehensive Review

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13112722 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 2722

Author(s):

Greta Brezgyte ◽

Vinay Shah ◽

Daria Jach ◽

Tatjana Crnogorac-Jurcevic

Keyword(s):

Clinical Setting ◽

Selection Index ◽

Reporting Quality ◽

Standard Of Care ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽

Index Test ◽

Delayed Presentation ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Study Selection

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) carries a deadly diagnosis, due in large part to delayed presentation when the disease is already at an advanced stage. CA19-9 is currently the most commonly utilized biomarker for PDAC; however, it lacks the necessary accuracy to detect precursor lesions or stage I PDAC. Novel biomarkers that could detect this malignancy with improved sensitivity (SN) and specificity (SP) would likely result in more curative resections and more effective therapeutic interventions, changing thus the present dismal survival figures. The aim of this study was to systematically and comprehensively review the scientific literature on non-invasive biomarkers in biofluids such as blood, urine and saliva that were attempting earlier PDAC detection. The search performed covered a period of 10 years (January 2010—August 2020). Data were extracted using keywords search in the three databases: MEDLINE, Web of Science and Embase. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool was applied for study selection based on establishing the risk of bias and applicability concerns in Patient Selection, Index test (biomarker assay) and Reference Standard (standard-of-care diagnostic test). Out of initially over 4000 published reports, 49 relevant studies were selected and reviewed in more detail. In addition, we discuss the present challenges and complexities in the path of translating the discovered biomarkers into the clinical setting. Our systematic review highlighted several promising biomarkers that could, either alone or in combination with CA19-9, potentially improve earlier detection of PDAC. Overall, reviewed biomarker studies should aim to improve methodological and reporting quality, and novel candidate biomarkers should be investigated further in order to demonstrate their clinical usefulness. However, challenges and complexities in the path of translating the discovered biomarkers from the research laboratory to the clinical setting remain and would have to be addressed before a more realistic breakthrough in earlier detection of PDAC is achieved.

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Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells: An Overview of Tumor-Mesenchymal Stem Cell Interaction for therapeutic interventions

Current Drug Targets ◽

10.2174/1389450122666210824142247 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 ◽

Author(s):

Soheila Montazersaheb ◽

Ezzatollah Fathi ◽

Ayoub Mamandi ◽

Raheleh Farahzadi ◽

Hamid Reza Heidari

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽

Tumor Microenvironment ◽

Cancer Stem Cells ◽

Tumor Cells ◽

Cell Types ◽

Cell Interaction ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Tumorigenic Potential ◽

Different Types

: Tumors are made up of different types of cancer cells that contribute to tumor heterogeneity. Among these cells, cancer stem cells (CSCs) have a significant role in the onset of cancer and development. Like other stem cells, CSCs are characterized by the capacity for differentiation and self-renewal. A specific population of CSCs is constituted by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that differentiate into mesoderm-specific cells. The pro-or anti-tumorigenic potential of MSCs on the proliferation and development of tumor cells has been reported as contradictory results. Also, tumor progression is specified by the corresponding tumor cells like the tumor microenvironment. The tumor microenvironment consists of a network of reciprocal cell types such as endothelial cells, immune cells, MSCs, and fibroblasts as well as growth factors, chemokines, and cytokines. In this review, recent findings related to the tumor microenvironment and associated cell populations, homing of MSCs to tumor sites, and interaction of MSCs with tumor cells will be discussed.

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MicroRNA expression in infertile men: its alterations and effects

Zygote ◽

10.1017/s0967199419000340 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 27 (05) ◽

pp. 263-271 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Maryam Kiani ◽

Mohammad Salehi ◽

Asghar Mogheiseh

Keyword(s):

Male Infertility ◽

Testicular Biopsy ◽

Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽

Mirna Regulation ◽

Altered Expression ◽

Diagnostic Biomarkers ◽

Rna Molecules ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽

Different Types

SummaryInfertility is an important reproductive health problem, and male infertility is especially important in more than half of infertility cases. Due to the importance of genetic factors in this condition, analysis of semen alone is not enough to recognize men with idiopathic infertility. A molecular non-invasive investigation is necessary to gain valuable information. Currently, microRNAs (miRNAs) are being used as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers. miRNAs, single-stranded non-coding RNA molecules, act as post-transcriptional gene silencing regulators either by inhibition or repression of translation. Changes in the regulation of miRNAs have been investigated in several different types of male infertility, therefore the biological role of miRNA and gene targets has been defined. The purpose of this study was to review recent research on the altered expression of miRNA in semen, sperm, and testicular biopsy samples in infertile males with different types of unexplained infertility. Changes in miRNA regulation were investigated using microarray and the miRNA levels were confirmed by real-time qRT-PCR. This review explains why creating a non-invasive diagnostic method for male infertility is necessary and how changes in miRNA expression can be used as new diagnostic biomarkers in patients with differing spermatogenic and histopathologic injury.

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Mobile Applications for the Promotion and Support of Healthy Nutrition and Physical Activity Habits: A Systematic Review, Extraction of Features and Taxonomy Proposal

The Open Bioinformatics Journal ◽

10.2174/1875036201912010050 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 50-71

Author(s):

María Vanessa Villasana ◽

Ivan Miguel Pires ◽

Juliana Sá ◽

Nuno M. Garcia ◽

Eftim Zdravevski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Mobile Applications ◽

Calorie Intake ◽

Anthropometric Parameters ◽

Healthy Nutrition ◽

Different Types ◽

Diet Diary ◽

Definition Of ◽

Future Work ◽

Google Play

Background: Mobile applications can be used for the monitoring of lifestyles and physical activity. It can be installed in commodity mobile devices, which are currently used by different types of people in their daily activities worlwide . Objective: This paper reviews and categorizes the mobile applications related to diet, nutrition, health, physical activity and education, showing the analysis of 73 mobile applications available on Google Play Store with the extraction of the different features. Methods: The mobile applications were analyzed in relation to each proposed category and their features, starting with the definition of the search keywords used in the Google Play Store. Each mobile application was installed on a smartphone, and validated whether it was researched in scientific studies. Finally, all mobile applications and features were categorized. Results: These mobile applications were clustered into four groups, including diet and nutrition, health, physical activity and education. The features of mobile applications were also categorized into six groups, including diet, anthropometric parameters, social, physical activity, medical parameters and vital parameters. The most available features of the mobile applications are weight, height, age, gender, goals, calories needed calculation, diet diary, food database with calories, calories burned and calorie intake. Conclusion: With this review, it was concluded that most mobile applications available in the market are related to diet, and they are important for different types of people. A promising idea for future work is to evaluate the acceptance by young people of such mobile applications.

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Mobile Applications for the Promotion and Support of Healthy Nutrition and Physical Activity Habits: A Systematic Review, Extraction of Features and Taxonomy Proposal

The Open Bioinformatics Journal ◽

10.2174/1874196701907010050 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 50-71 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

María Vanessa Villasana ◽

Ivan Miguel Pires ◽

Juliana Sá ◽

Nuno M. Garcia ◽

Eftim Zdravevski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Mobile Applications ◽

Calorie Intake ◽

Anthropometric Parameters ◽

Healthy Nutrition ◽

Different Types ◽

Diet Diary ◽

Definition Of ◽

Future Work ◽

Google Play

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X-ray Micro-Tomography as a Method to Distinguish and Characterize Natural and Cultivated Pearls

Condensed Matter ◽

10.3390/condmat6040051 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 51

Author(s):

Luisa Vigorelli ◽

Elisabetta Croce ◽

Debora Angelici ◽

Raffaella Navone ◽

Sabrina Grassini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diagnostic Techniques ◽

X Ray ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Heritage Studies ◽

Different Types ◽

Micro Tomography ◽

Invasive Techniques ◽

Tomographic Analysis ◽

Private Collections

Digital radiography and computed tomography are two fundamental diagnostic techniques in different fields of research, including cultural heritage studies and gemmology. The application of these physical methods of investigation has gained considerable importance as they are non-invasive techniques. The presented work has been mainly focused on micro-tomographic analysis. The project is concerned with the study of natural and cultivated pearls in order to develop an investigation methodology for the analysis, distinction and characterization of different types of pearls, some of them belonging to different precious jewels from private collections. The investigations, carried out on a total of 22 heterogeneous types of pearls, allowed us to establish their origin (natural or cultivated) or to confirm/deny if a hypothesis was already expressed, and as well to highlight the cultivation methodology used case by case. Furthermore, it was possible to ascertain how large and varied the market for cultured pearls is nowadays and how difficult is, in some particular cases, to ascertain their attribution to a certain origin.

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The Influence of the Social Situation of Development on the Social Cognition in the Children-Orphans

Clinical Psychology and Special Education ◽

10.17759/cpse.2019080102 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 19-32

Author(s):

T.V. Avakyan ◽

S.V. Volikova ◽

M.G. Sorokova

Keyword(s):

Social Cognition ◽

Social Interaction ◽

Social Anxiety ◽

Social Development ◽

Theoretical Basis ◽

Social Situation ◽

Multifactor Model ◽

The Social

The influence of a specific social development situation on the operational and motivational components of social cognition in orphan adolescents investigated. The theoretical basis of the study was the provisions of the "social situation of development" L.S. Vygotsky, theories of attachment by J. Bowlby, the multifactor model of social cognition A.B. Kholmogorova, O.V. Rychkova. 68 orphans aged from 10 to 17 years old living in the orphanage examined. It shown that orphaned teenagers with an insecure type of attachment have more difficulty in understanding their own feelings, regardless of the length of their stay in the institution. Orphans living in institutions for more than 5 years have a higher level of social anxiety and distress during social interaction.

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Mechanisms of Anxiety Reduction in Animal-Assisted Interventions for Adolescents

10.31234/osf.io/etf46 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Megan Kiely Mueller ◽

Eric C Anderson ◽

Erin K. King ◽

Heather L. Urry

Keyword(s):

Social Interaction ◽

Social Anxiety ◽

Empirical Evidence ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Mechanisms Of Action ◽

Anxiety Reduction ◽

Physical Contact ◽

Physical Interaction ◽

Autonomic Reactivity ◽

Therapy Dog

Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) are increasingly popular as treatments to reduce anxiety. However, there is little empirical evidence testing the mechanisms of action in AAIs, especially among adolescents. We examined whether two possible mechanisms, social interaction and/or physical contact with a therapy dog, might reduce anxiety during a social stressor. To test these mechanisms, we randomly assigned 75 adolescents with low, middle, and high levels of social anxiety to complete a laboratory-based social evaluative stressor in one of three conditions: social interaction with a therapy dog (no physical interaction), social plus physical interaction with a therapy dog, or no interaction with a therapy dog. We found no evidence that the presence of a real dog, with or without the opportunity to touch it, reduced anxiety or autonomic reactivity or improved cognitive performance relative to the presence of a stuffed dog in the control condition, regardless of levels of preexisting social anxiety.

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Distance learning: integration of media education into teaching of social-pedagogical disciplines

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/202021018102 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 210 ◽

pp. 18102

Author(s):

Elena Muryukina ◽

Marina Pevneva ◽

Tatiana Poliakova

Keyword(s):

Distance Learning ◽

University Students ◽

Educational Technologies ◽

Educational Institutions ◽

Practical Training ◽

Different Types ◽

Knowledge Competencies ◽

Social Pedagogues ◽

Future Work ◽

Oriented Approach

New time challenges cause new contradictions that are peculiar for educational environment in Russia and they require instant solutions. We have identified the contradictions which defined our target to determine the techniques and methods of distance education for students of pedagogical specializations based on practice-oriented approach, implementation of media educational technologies into the preparation of university students aimed at the development of knowledge, competencies and skills in distance learning in different types of educational institutions. Media educational technologies are conditioned by general pedagogical and didactic principles and the choice of pedagogical methods directly depends on the content of educational discipline, conditions of its implementation and other factors. Media educational technologies used for the completion of social-pedagogical disciplines for university students consist of creative and game tasks. Using them it is essential to consider special features of various media and the target of the lesson. Practice is another relevant purpose in the process of distance learning. We believe that this problem will be dominating in the nearest future as practice in distance learning is focused on by higher education institutions. In this article some techniques and types of this practical training are presented being shaped by the format of distance learning. During various practices the students of pedagogical specializations will be able not only to prepare for their future work but also to assist subject teachers, social pedagogues in schools and to make considerable contributions in this work.

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